<p>My favorite non-Hyde Park place is Quartino, on State and Ontario, maybe? Right off Magnificent Mile.</p>
<p>thanks for your suggestions</p>
<p>Has anyone ever been to Calypso Cafe on 53rd & Harper?</p>
<p>Mmmmm, it’s deeelicious. It’s not a place I would think I’d like to take my parents to (read: it’s within a student budget) but it’s one of the more upscale experience places. There, Cedars, La Petit Folie and possibly Park 52 (never been there) might be my choices for in-neighborhood quasi-upscale dining.</p>
<p>Let the reviews speak for themselves:</p>
<p>[Calypso</a> Cafe - Hyde Park - Chicago, IL 60615](<a href=“http://www.yelp.com/biz/calypso-cafe-chicago]Calypso”>http://www.yelp.com/biz/calypso-cafe-chicago)</p>
<p>[Cedars</a> Mediterranean Kitchen - Hyde Park - Chicago, IL](<a href=“http://www.yelp.com/biz/cedars-mediterranean-kitchen-chicago#hrid:4bnJhjCdhoe3VwYKJdCfeA/query:cedars]Cedars”>http://www.yelp.com/biz/cedars-mediterranean-kitchen-chicago#hrid:4bnJhjCdhoe3VwYKJdCfeA/query:cedars)</p>
<p>[La</a> Petite Folie - Hyde Park - Chicago, IL](<a href=“http://www.yelp.com/biz/la-petite-folie-chicago#hrid:6KV-804QsEPJUuud7ITdbA/query:la]La”>http://www.yelp.com/biz/la-petite-folie-chicago#hrid:6KV-804QsEPJUuud7ITdbA/query:la) petit folie</p>
<p>[Park</a> 52 - Hyde Park - Chicago, IL 60615](<a href=“http://www.yelp.com/biz/park-52-chicago]Park”>http://www.yelp.com/biz/park-52-chicago)</p>
<p>And I forgot about Piccolo Mondo. It’s right near Broadview/Shoreland. I’ve never been:</p>
<p>[Piccolo</a> Mondo - Hyde Park - Chicago, IL](<a href=“http://www.yelp.com/biz/piccolo-mondo-chicago]Piccolo”>http://www.yelp.com/biz/piccolo-mondo-chicago)</p>
<p>Delicious is what we are looking for. We will have six in our group so if it is affordable that is great. Thanks for the quick reply!</p>
<p>How about Leona’s?</p>
<p>drdom</p>
<p>If you have satellite TV, there is a PBS show produced in Chicago called “Check, Please”. On WTTW, Channel Eleven here. It features three Chicago restaurants per show…three guest reviewers per show pick a favorite Chicago restaurant. Then each review person goes to the other two’s favorite places. Then all three get together with a moderator and discuss their experiences at the three places. May you can tune that in.</p>
<p>Rib fans might also want to try Hecky’s in Evanston or the Gale Street Inn, across from the blue line station in Jefferson Park. (Yes, the blue line that runs to O’Hare)</p>
<p>cottonwood, no satellite tv. But I get the message to explore outside of Hyde park. Looks like we’ll be meeting up with my wife’s friend from Naperville on Friday night and our S has granted us the pleasure of his company on Saturday night. It seems like it will be a chore to convince him to join us in some of the Family Weekend activities - so why then am I going?</p>
<p>drdom, you are going because (1) he might show up (2) because the campus is a pretty place and you will have fun. The upside is that you might even meet some of his friends and see his living quarters.</p>
<p>FWIW, I met a lot of my D’s friends whenever I visited campus by letting D know I’d treat whoever came to dinner with her. Most students don’t have parents visiting even family weekend, and most students won’t pass up a free meal at Cedars or the Med (or even the pizza places.)</p>
<p>Ditto. I have loved the family weekends. The model classes are great – really interesting, really entertaining, and a great peek at what is going on. I learned a lot at them, and learned a lot about the university at them. Meeting my kids’ friends was also great. Talking to other parents was great. Going to the Oriental Institute and the Smart Museum was great. Meeting my child’s advisor was not so great but helped me understand why my child was less than enthralled with the advisor. Going out to dinner elsewhere in Chicago was great (Carnevale in the warehouse district one year, Mundial Cocina in Pilsen – which was fabulous – another). And I did get my kids to spend time with me, and that was great, too.</p>
<p>I’m going to family weekend also, to visit my freshman son. My motive is really to spend time with him, so I’m not sure how many scheduled events I want to go to if it’s not usual for students to accompany their parents.</p>
<p>He has already specified that on Saturday night, he wants me to take him to a really good Italian restaurant in Chicago outside Hyde Park, because he hasn’t had great Italian food since we spent two weeks in Rome this summer. Any suggestions? (I will be renting a car, so transportation isn’t a problem.)</p>
<p>I’ve already told him that any friends of his whose parents aren’t there are welcome to come along. My treat, within reason!</p>
<p>Spiaggia is what you will get when you ask foodies or check internet sites about Chicago and Italian food. It is not - by any means - worth it.</p>
<p>Most of the other popular non-pizza Italian places are chains like Mangianos or Bucca di Beppo, but are still good for what they are.</p>
<p>I have a question for anyone who may know. I recently visited Georgetown University. I absolutely loved it. I am planning to visit UChicago int he next two months. Are the two comporable at all? How are they different?</p>
<p>What did you love about Georgetown University, and what are you hoping to expect from your visit to UChicago?</p>
<p>I think that for some kids, the schools are very similar, and for others, they’re very different. It all depends on what you like in a school and what you’re looking for.</p>
<p>There are tons of great Italian restaurants in Chicago. I LOVE Quartino, which is on State Street just north of Grand (I think it’s at Ohio or Ontario) - either way, within view of the Grand red line stop. It’s Italian tapas, which is a little unusual, but very tasty and shockingly affordable for its prestige and location. Good pizza too, but it’s definitely not Chicago style and it’s not really the focus of the restaurant.</p>
<p>Volare is supposed to be good as well, it’s at Grand and St. Clair (east of Michigan Avenue) - a little tucked away but always hopping. It’s apparently a Near North staple, I really want to try it.</p>
<p>My friend loves Angelina, an Italian restaurant in Lakeview on Broadway Street. </p>
<p>You should yelp these options and more to see what’s best for your group. (yelp.com)</p>
<p>unalove, </p>
<p>Are you kidding? some kids would consider Georgetown similar to Chicago? Have you ever BEEN to Georgetown? </p>
<p>As near as I can see, the only thing they have in common is the style of a few buildings, and perhaps similar selectivity, cost and prestige.</p>
<p>But consider:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>the students could not be more different. Gtwn defines preppiness and is much more in the style of Northwestern</p></li>
<li><p>Gtwn is much weaker in the sciences, and has a rather undistinguished medical school.</p></li>
<li><p>Gtwn is in a completely different kind of urban neighborhood - zero diversity, very upper income (probably the most costly housing in all of DC is in Gtwn). Many folks love the charm of the area, especially compared to Hyde Park.</p></li>
<li><p>Chicago’s atmosphere is much more intellectual and intense. </p></li>
</ul>
<p>I can also advise tonytet to dig below the surface a bit - observe the students and get a feel for the culture beyond the buildings. Both Gtwn and UofC are great places. But they each cater to very different market segments.</p>
<p>Interesting…S2 is interested in both schools, but he’s looking specifically at IR/IS programs. He has been to NAIMUN at Georgetown twice (heck, he was born at Georgetown!), and we live in the area. Will be visiting Chicago in April over his Spring Break. Less preppy and more intellectual (without overwhelming geekiness) would be a good thing as far as he’s concerned.</p>
<p>CountingDown- International relations/studies is a staple of G’town, especially with all the opportunities in the D.C. area. But, if UChicago is closer to the atmosphere you want, you can’t go wrong! Its not like Chicago is lacking in opportunities, internships, etc. compared to D.C., unless perhaps you want to go specifically into government.</p>
<p>I suspect S2 will find Georgetown and Chicago to be two very different paths to his eventual goals. First he has to be admitted, though!</p>